Alberto Miguélez Rouco, the ensemble director, founded Los Elementos in 2018 to rediscover and perform forgotten Spanish baroque music, premiering José de Nebra's zarzuela 'Vendado es Amor, no es ciego' in 2020.
Historical Context
The cantada genre in Spain, featured on this album, emerged in the late 17th century and flourished in the 18th century, heavily influenced by Italian music and musicians.
Interpretation
The two cantadas by Francisco Corselli on this album were originally written for Joseph Galicani, a 'musico contralto' (likely a castrato) of the royal chapel from 1749 to 1771.
Composer Biography
José de Nebra, a composer on this album, began his career in Madrid at an early age, holding the position of organist at the Convento de las Descalzas Reales by age 15.
Recording & Production
The recording was made in the Église du Sacré-Coeur, Basel, Switzerland, in September 2020.
Historical Context
At the Spanish court, José de Nebra was often overshadowed by Italian composers like Domenico Scarlatti or Francisco Corselli, another composer featured on this album.
Compositional Technique
The Spanish cantada, as heard on this album, typically follows the structure of an Italian solo cantata, often consisting of a recitative and aria or two recitatives and two arias.
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